Treasury cuts Moi, Kibaki office repair budget

Former President Mwai Kibaki’s office in Nyari Estate, Nairobi. PHOTO | FILE 

By NEVILLE OTUKI, notuki@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• Taxpayers were expected to spend Sh10 million refurbishing the offices on top of the Sh20 million they spent last year.
• However, the budget has been cut to Sh4 million as part of austerity measures that has seen the Treasury reduce project spending by Sh50 billion.
• Under the law, both Mr Kibaki and Mr Moi are entitled to an office, staff and a full secretariat to manage their programmes.

The Treasury has cut the budget set for renovation of former presidents Daniel arap Moi’s and Mwai Kibaki’s offices, easing the burden on taxpayers to keep the retired heads of state comfortable in retirement.

Taxpayers were expected to spend Sh10 million refurbishing the offices on top of the Sh20 million they spent last year, but the budget has been cut to Sh4 million as part of austerity measures that has seen the Treasury reduce project spending by Sh50 billion.

The supplementary budget tabled in Parliament Tuesday indicates that Mr Moi’s refurbishment budget has been cut to Sh3 million from Sh5 million while that of Mr Kibaki has been reduced to Sh1 million from Sh5 million.

Mr Kibaki’s office block at Nyari Estate in Nairobi was bought in 2013 by the government at Sh250 million.

Its purchase followed a public outcry after the Treasury had set aside Sh700 million to acquire new offices for Kenya’s third president. 

Mr Moi has an office at Kabarnet Gardens off Ngong Road and repairs of the two office blocks come as Kenyans spend nearly Sh250 million in the current financial year to keep the former presidents happy in retirement.

The Sh250 million includes pension and perks, utilities and pay for their state-funded staff.

Mr Kibaki stepped down from the presidency in 2013 after serving two terms. Mr Moi retired in 2002 after a 24-year reign, which has entitled him to regular payments, the first ever for a former head of state in Kenya.

The first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, died in office in 1978.

Under the law, both Mr Kibaki and Mr Moi are entitled to an office, staff and a full secretariat to manage their programmes.

READ: MPs approve millions for Moi, Kibaki’s office renovations

Mr Moi opted to use his Kabarnet Gardens home near Kibera in Nairobi as his official office. The State, however, is responsible for its maintenance and security.

The former presidents’ offices are fitted with sophisticated security apparatus such as surveillance equipment and are well furnished.

Apart from the Nyari office block, Mr Kibaki has a State-financed Sh500 million Mweiga home in Nyeri, which was perceived to be his retirement home.

The house is magnificent, an imposing architectural piece of work that is built on a 100-acre piece of land.